Are you living to eat or eating to live?

Genesis 1:29 records God giving Adam and Eve instructions concerning healthy eating: And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” While some use this scripture to teach that we should not eat meat, there are scriptures in the Bible that make allowances for eating meat such as Leviticus 11:2, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying ‘These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.” I’m not debating whether we should or should not eat meat or whether we should only eat fruits and vegetables. The point that I want to make is that we should all strive to eat healthy.

There are several Bible passages that warn against unhealthy eating habits and issues such as gluttony or over eating. Many passages give us instructions concerning attitudes and behaviors related to eating (Proverbs 23:1-3). Likewise, the Bible admonishes us to exercise self-control and temperance in our eating. There are Biblical examples of people such as Daniel who after refusing to eat the kings delicacies improved in his mental, physical and spiritual acumen (Daniel 1: 8-20).

We can surmise from several scriptures that eating healthy is important to living a healthy life. God created food to nourish and sustain us. Food was never designed to destroy our bodies and lives. As you ponder these things this week ask yourself this sobering question, “Am I living to eat or eating to live?” My prayer is that you would choose life and eat healthy.